2018 Spring Conferment of Decoration on Foreign Nationals

April 30, 2018

On April 29th, 2018, the Government of Japan announced the recipients of the 2018 Spring Conferment of Decorations on Foreign Nationals. These decorations are conferred to Foreign Nationals who made significant contributions to promote friendly relations and mutual understanding with Japan. Among the 140 recipients this spring, the five Canadians below will receive decorations.

-Decoration: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star
-Name (age): Mike Wallace (54)
-Major Titles: Former Co-chair of Canada-Japan Inter-Parliamentary Group
Former Member of Parliament
-Address: Burlington, Ontario
-Summary of Contributions: Contributed to promoting parliamentary exchanges and friendly relations between Japan and Canada

-Decoration: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
-Name (age): Theodore Willian Goossen (69)
-Major title: Professor at York University, Faculty of Liberal arts
Member of the Canada-Japan Society of Toronto (the first chair)
-Address: Toronto, Ontario
-Summary of Contributions: Contributed to developing Japan’s research and to promoting Japanese culture in Canada

-Decoration: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette
-Name (age): Christian D’Orangeville (72)
-Major titles: President of the Canadian Kendo Federation
Director of the International Kendo Federation
-Address: Montréal, Québec
-Summary of Contributions: Contributed to promoting exchanges and friendly relations between Japan and Canada

-Decoration: The Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays
-Name (age): Rocky Rokuji Oishi (80)
-Major titles: Former President of Calgary Japanese Community Association
Board member of Calgary Japanese Language School
-Address: Calgary, Alberta
-Summary of Contributions: Contributed to promoting the position of Japanese Canadians and Japanese culture and language in Canada

-Decoration: The Order of the Sacred Treasure, Gold and Silver Rays
-Name (age): Elizabeth van der Wind (70)
-Major titles: Former local employee of the Embassy of Japan in the Netherlands
-Address: Leiden, the Netherlands
-Summary of Contributions: Contributed to the activities of the Japanese overseas establishment